With research results indicating that more than half of Kangwon Land's customers intend to visit the Japan Osaka Integrated Resort (IR) casino once it opens in 2030, concerns are rising that the actual customer exodus and the scale of overseas casino spending could be significantly larger than anticipated.
Experts point out that existing surveys may not fully reflect future market shifts, especially when considering the overseas casino experience of current Kangwon Land patrons and their dissatisfaction with the current gaming environment.
On the 14th, at a seminar titled 'Analysis of the Impact of Japan's IR Casino Introduction' held by the Korea Casino Business Tourism Association at the Koreana Hotel in Seoul, Professor Lee Choong-ki of Kyung Hee University announced findings that 52.1% of Kangwon Land customers expressed an intention to visit the Osaka IR.
In a survey conducted by a Kangwon National University research team last September, which polled 493 general floor customers at Kangwon Land, 41.9% of respondents revealed they had already visited overseas casinos.
Those interested in visiting the Osaka IR estimated an average of 4 visits per year, with an average spending of 3.01 million KRW per casino session.
Based on these figures, researchers estimated that approximately 445,304 Kangwon Land customers would visit the Osaka IR annually, with total gaming expenditures ranging from 316.5 billion to 1.266 trillion KRW depending on visit frequency.
However, long-term observation of customer behavior at the Kangwon Land casino suggests that the actual migration of customers and the scale of gaming expenditure could exceed these estimates once the Osaka casino opens.
Notably, this survey was limited to general floor customers and excluded VIP customers, who typically engage in much larger betting volumes.
Furthermore, as awareness of the Osaka IR grows and its facilities and gaming environment are unveiled, the number of prospective visitors is likely to increase further.
The motivations behind Kangwon Land customers' interest in visiting Osaka are also noteworthy.
38.4% of respondents cited a desire to 'enjoy casino games in a freer environment,' while 20.7% pointed to the 'freedom from strict entry and gaming regulations,' indicating that dissatisfaction with the current environment and regulations is a primary driver.
Suggested improvements for Kangwon Land included service enhancements (19.7%), expansion of auxiliary facilities (15.8%), 24-hour operations (15.1%), higher betting limits (13.6%), and relaxed entry restrictions (12.5%).
This highlights that it is not only the large-scale facilities and diverse gaming environment of the Osaka IR that attract customers, but also the restrictive operational environment of Kangwon Land itself that may be fueling this migration.
Specifically, persistent complaints regarding the lack of popular slot machines and table games, competition for seats, and strict betting and entry regulations suggest that the opening of the Osaka IR could be a major turning point for customer choice.
The Osaka IR is a massive project with an investment of approximately 1.513 trillion JPY, featuring 2,500 hotel rooms, international conference and exhibition facilities, and a casino, scheduled to open in the fall of 2030.
While the casino industry notes that Kangwon Land is working on facility expansion through the 'K-HIT Project,' there are concerns that without tangible innovations in the gaming environment and services, there will be limits to securing international competitiveness.
Experts also emphasize that to prevent customer loss, Kangwon Land must pursue rational regulatory reform, service improvements, and the expansion of popular gaming facilities, while simultaneously implementing responsible gaming policies to prevent gambling addiction.
